Barcelona’s €40 million-rated defender will not leave in January – Romero

After a record-breaking 2022/23 season in terms of defensive numbers, Barcelona were expected to maintain, if not improve on, their performance at the back this season.

With Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde only boosted by the arrival of Inigo Martinez, the Catalans had some of the world’s best personnel at their disposal. Yet, their defensive performances this season have been nothing short of shambolic.

Recent weeks have thus seen an upsurge in talks of a potential big-name departure from the centre-back department.

Barcelona are in dire need of revenue generation and see the central defence to be a position with a clear surplus of underperforming resources.

Christensen tops the list

Barcelona see Ronald Araujo as untouchable and Inigo Martinez to be unsaleable considering his recent arrival. The spotlight thus falls on Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde.

Considering that Xavi had the Frenchman signed on his personal request, the Danish star appears set to be the scapegoat. After all, Barcelona signed him on a free transfer and could profit big from selling the defender, whose market value stands at €40 million.

Earlier today, Jijantes FC journalist Gerard Romero confirmed that the defender would likely not be sold in the January transfer market.

He relayed that the former Chelsea star wishes to stay at Barcelona until the end of the season, and any transfer would likely stem only in the summer.

Several Premier League clubs are attentive to Christensen’s situation and are willing to make a bid for him, easing Barcelona’s aim of making the big sale.

The young replacement

In view of the departing defensive asset, Barcelona have already made plans of signing a replacement. A

s opposed to bringing in a new name for a high price, the administration are willing to take the bet on Chadi Riad who is currently on loan with Real Betis.

Los Verdiblancos have an option to sign the player permanently at the end of the season for €3.5 million. Everything indicates that they will pull the aforementioned trigger, but Barcelona have a €7 million buyback clause that they are set to exercise.

The Catalans see Riad to be one capable of reaching Ronald Araujo’s quality on the field, and thus, an able replacement for the long term.